Sunday, September 25, 2011

Gun Blogger Rendezvous Raises over $8,000

We've just about got all of the accounting finished up, thanks to the help of Barrett Escrow, and it looks like the Gun Blogger Rendezvous raised about $6,000 for Project Valour-IT. Added to that is the yet to be determined amount being raised by SIG's generous donation of a SIG 1911, custom engraved with the Soldier's Angels logo, currently being auctioned off at Gunbroker.com. At the moment the price on it is $2,075, and there's still time for it to go even higher. Although the Gunbroker auction didn't happen at the Rendezvous, it was a direct result of SIG Sauer's participation in the Rendezvous as a sponsor, so I think it's OK to count it in there. Regardless, it's more money raised for Soldier's Angels and Project Valour-IT, so it's definitely good news!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

I Haven't Really Disappeared!

I can't believe it's been over a week since the Gun Blogger Rendezvous already, and I still haven't got any posts up about it. Granted, KeeWee has a good one up already, as do a lot of the other attendees. Why no posts here yet? Several reasons, but all are a combination of being pretty much exhausted from the Rendezvous and being swamped when I got back home. I'm not sure how it works that way, but you can be all caught up when you leave, be gone for six days, and when you get back you're two weeks behind! Go figure....

Here's some of what I've been up to, though. First, I am still working on getting the Tanfoglio Gold custom 9mm. race gun to where I want it to be. So far I haven't been able to get the loads and power factor down as low as I'd like. I took some weight off of the slide, though, and that seems to have made quite a difference. There is still some ways to go, but it's progressing nicely. I've also been working on getting my draw to first shot times down, and although I'm still not as fast as I need to be, it's steadily improving.I shot a club match on Sunday at Puyallup, and did OK both in rimfire and centerfire classes.

Second, I am in the process of buying and moving an old CNC milling machine so I can start manufacturing some specialty mounts for the OKO Red Dot sights and also some other competition gun parts. The older CNC milling machines don't cost much compared to more modern machines, but they still can do a very good job. They one I am getting is an Excello two head Vertical mill with a GE 1050 controller, for those of you familiar with that sort of thing. Of course, that means I need to get up to speed on CAD software and G-Code programming so I can run the mill!

Third, KeeWee and I are getting semi-organized for our trek to Boise, ID. for the Idaho State Steel Challenge Championships being held on Oct. 1st. This will be the first Idaho Steel Challenge Championships hosted by this club, and we really want them to have a successful match!

Fourth, I'm still getting the final accounting from the Rendezvous wrapped up, as we want to be sure every single penny is accounted for and everything all adds up as it should. We're just about done on that, though, and we should be able to send out a nice check to Soldier's Angels and Project Valour-IT very soon.

Finally, I'm shipping out some OKO red dot sights to folks. Shooters are finding out that thr OKO sight is available again, and they are starting to sell. No big volume of sales, but a little growth at a time.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Gun Blogger Rendezvous

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Rendezvous hospitality Room Change

There has been a last minute room change for the Gun Blogger Rendezvous Hospitality room. We are now using the Silver Baron "E" room instead of the Silver Baron "C". It is just a couple of doors over, and there is a Gun Blogger Rendezvous sign outside the door.

Monday, September 05, 2011

Otis Technologies To Sponsor Rendezvous Breakfast

Otis Technologies, maker of some very fine cleaning kits, will be sponsoring the Saturday breakfast at the Gun Blogger Rendezvous. In addition, they will also be contributing one of their Elite Cleaning Kits to the Project Valour-IT Fund Raising Raffle at the Rendezvous.

Otis Elite Gun Cleaning Kit.

Here's the full description of the Elite kit:

The most innovative gun cleaning system in the Otis line of products is the Otis Elite®.

Suitable for an armorer but used by thousands, the Otis Elite® is designed to maintain all rifles .17 to .50 caliber, pistols .17 to .50 caliber, shotguns .410 to 12/10 gauge, and all in-line muzzleloaders. The Otis Elite® contains the world famous item #750 Tactical Cleaning System, and the entire line of bronze bore and chamber cleaning brushes from .17 caliber through 12/10 gauge.

Also included in this extensive cleaning system are six Memory-Flex® cleaning rods, an all purpose nylon receiver brush, a T-handle bar, three slotted tips, obstruction removers, small and large Patch Savers®, a bore reflector/flag safety, small caliber and all-caliber 100% cotton patches, and two .5 oz. tubes of Otis O85® Ultra Bore® Solvent.

All of the components are neatly stored in a black nylon, rust proof case which includes a lock and keys for additional security. The Otis Elite® now includes the brass scraper tool set, optics cleaning gear and an interactive instructional DVD. With over 40 gun cleaning components, detailed gun maintenance guide, and a lifetime warranty, the Otis Elite® is the Hallmark of Excellence in firearm maintenance.

To say that this kit is pretty nice is like saying the Pope tends to be a bit religious!

Come to the Gun Blogger Rendezvous, buy a raffle ticket, and this Otis Elite kit could follow you home!

September e-Postal Match is Now Underway

This month's e-Postal match is now up and running over at True Blue Sams place. Go download the target and head out to the range, shoot 'em up, take a picture, and email it to True blue Sam to get entered.

You probably aren't getting out shooting nearly as much as you should, so here's a great reason to go empty some brass!!

HawkHavn of Appleseed has agreed to send Gun Blogger Rendezvous FREE APPLESEED gift certificates. We will be passing them out to all of those who have registered to attend GBR at the Saturday night shin dig. Whoohoo!

HawkHavn will also be sending free targets (who doesn’t love free targets?) as well as Appleseed brochures and business cards. I hope every GBR blogger uses this opportunity to learn about RWVA and its Appleseed program and to attend a free Appleseed shoot. These shoots are amazing.

Still Time To Register / Attend The Rendezvous

There is still time to get your registration in and to attend this year's Gun blogger Rendezvous, but it starts next Thursday, September 8th., so you need to get hopping! If you send your registration Priority Mail (or FEDEX) today or tomorrow, I should get it in time to get you in. If not, or if it only becomes possible to attend at the very last minute, you can still get in. Download and print out your registration and bring it, along with your $30 / per person to the Rendezvous and give it to me directly, and I'll get you in. The Rendezvous is not full to capacity, and one way or another, if you show up, we'll get you in.

Hotel accommodations group rate pricing "Officially" ended 30 days before the first day of the Rendezvous, but they have been very good about honoring the group rate at the last minute, provided they have the room available. Be sure to contact them right away and give them the group code.

To reserve your room, give them a call at the Silver Legacy at 1-800-687-8733 and give them the Gun Blogger rendezvous Group Code of GBLOG11. When you are making your reservation, you might ask them if you can get a room that faces McCarran Park, so you can watch the hot air balloons from your window.